Family sues Publix over blueberry-linked death

The family of Karla Mullins, a 74-year-old Florida woman who died June 20, has sued Publix and food distributor Quirch Foods, alleging she became ill after eating recalled GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries. The lawsuit also says her son ate the berries and was hospitalized, and accuses the companies of responsibility for selling a defective, dangerous product. The berries were recalled after being linked to a multistate E. coli outbreak; federal officials reported 17 illnesses and six hospitalizations, and the FDA later declared the outbreak over. The family is seeking damages for Mullins’ death and her son’s injuries.